Been a while since I posted anything Fremantle Dockers related.

Listened to Mark Harvey today on 6pr with Bob Maumill. Thankfully Barra was nowhere to be seen.

Mark said a few notable things.
He wants to start a charity pre season match between Fremantle and the two WAFL Fremantles sides. Can you imagine the staunch South Freo supporters cheering on the East Freo boys? The East Freo supporters will be too busy looking for the bar, so they wont care…

He is ready for the press onslaught this year, and inevitable contract calls from the rabid West Australian Press.

Bob suggested there was definete disparity between how the press deals with John Worsfold and Harvey. Harvey, to his credit, did not have much to say about that, just declaring he loves the challenge at Fremantle.
But history tells us there is no love between the two coaches, with Harvey and Worsfold sharing moments of conflict both on and off the field.

All in all, Harves is looking forward to seeing the development of the 11 young players blooded last year, and positive about the squad he has developed. Hope so Mark, looking forward to the footy season, cricket has been boring as….
Link

(Post edited for accuracy)

Seems like heaps of Pastors are leaving their churches at the moment.
Churches can be tough…and unfair

Pastors can also be niave, foolish and idealistic.

There is a radical middle between pragmatism and being spiritually dependent
There is a radical middle between trusting and being realistic
There is a radical middle between boundaries and vulnerability

Finding that radical middle as a pastor…is not easy
Churches bear the scars of dysfunctional pastors
Pastors bear the scars of dysfunctional church leaders/church people

Praying tonight for the advancement of the Kingdom

This is the message I gave on Sunday, from Isaiah 52
I hope you enjoy it…the audio is definetly average, but hopefully listenable.

Listen Click Here

A message which Brian Houston gave at the Hillsong Conference (2004 I think) was entitled ‘speaking from the high places’.
I am adopting some of it for my message this Sunday.

He asked the question, those of you who know me, have you ever heard me bad mouthing another Christian leader, have you heard me spreading gossip about another Pastor?

He then challenged us, as pastors, we are often the worst offenders when it comes to spreading bad news….in fact there are bad news churches.

Now of course Hillsong has its fair share of critics…but there is remarkably little criticism that comes from it….

This week I am speaking from Isaiah 52….how beautiful are the feet of him who brings… ‘good news’. I want to be known as someone who spreads good news….

“Now at this point, or at least up till this point, there had been watchmen, these watchmen would be on the walls, on the hills, at the high places…the high places, watching for the enemy, watching to protect, watching out of fear of attack. They were there to keep the nation safe. So the people could retreat into safety, go behind the walls protect themselves, that was their role, one borne out of fear and desperation.
But here in this passage the watchmens role is flipped on its head. It says here, The watchmen shout and sing with joy,”

see you Sunday for more….

Coming up to the 16th year of my Ministry at Inglewood Church.
This is not a long reflection type post…just a brief thought in the light of what is happening…
A lot of friends and aquaitances are in the process of leaving their church, reconsidering their ministry roles, moving to other ministry positions, other churches…

I don’t have anything against moving churches, God calls people to certain places for a season, a role…a task.

That is not my story, and I feel like Inglewood Church is where God has me for life. This may change at some point, but I cant imagine when or why.

Its a bit like a footy player, some of them are ‘journeymen’, some of them are one club players.
For me…I am finding God is changing me a lot as a leader, as the church goes through change. Its a interesting journey.

Last week was super busy, especially with Australia Day on Tuesday…

I organised Pictures in the Park, decent crowd in, about 200 plus folk came in from the community, with minimal advertising. We watched Wall-e which has suprising spiritual themes. Lots of visible community presence, and being a blessing.

Had a group of friends we don’t see enough of over for Australia Day. Melinda cooked up some superb pies, curry, steak and mushroom, satay chicken….homemade with big and juicy chunks of meat. Pavlova with fresh blueberries…and a loud and good countdown of Aussie Rock Music on 96fm

Saturday was my sons birthday…turned 9. Bought him a little video camera. He has a real aptitude for ‘story’, and so we want to encourage this natural skill. He loves taking photos and making videos with them. This is a natural next step.
Then I took him and two of his mates to ‘Adventure World‘. I had to go on every ride with them, and so I was smaaaashed.
Then we had a combined family ‘Club Penguin Pizza Night’. Melinda cooked up the finest pizzas possible. Smothered in seafood, chicken and roast pumpkin, meatlovers, feta and vegetarian…etc etc….

Today was Church at Inglewood Church. Big crowd in, great sense of God’s presence and joy. Our new youth pastor showed a great video and I spoke on ‘Thy word is a’….
It went really well, with a stack of visitors….

Life is good…off to make myself a coffee with some coffee that my sister in law brought me from Vietnam…and a Krispy Kreme doughnut that my sister brought me from Melbourne….BLESSED!